USA

Synopsis

Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love, was not kind to Toula Portokalos. Toula is the worst nightmare of her big, boisterous and proudly Greek family: thirty years old and still not married. With her stringy hair and thick glasses, Toula spends her time waitressing at the family restaurant and daydreaming of escape from her parent's sloppy kisses and affectionate insults.
But Apollo made Toula wise, and the ugly duckling realizes that the only way to escape her loving but smothering family is to transform herself into a swan. She changes her look, and takes college classes in computers — growing more confident each day. With her mother's crafty help, she's allowed to work in her aunt's travel agency ... and that's where fate finds her.
Ian Miller is handsome, intelligent and charming and is instantly attracted to Toula's strength and infectious humour. He possesses, however, one extraordinary fault; he's not Greek As her romance blossoms, Toula tries to hide him from her parents, grandparents and dozens of cousins — and them from him.
Once the truth comes out, the overbearing Portokalos family descends on Ian, teaching him the ways of "the world's greatest civilization." With his proper, staid upbringing, he's a fish out of water amidst the laughter, love and joys his in-laws display. Nothing, however — not the crazy grandmother, the dancing on tables, or the ever-flowing Ouzo can prepare him for the Big, Fat, Greek wedding that awaits him once love conquers all.
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Cast & Crew

Directed by: Joel Zwick

Written by: Nia Vardalos

Produced by: Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman

Cast: Nia Vardalos (Toula Portakalos), John Corbett (Ian Miller)

Nominations and Awards

  • Screen International Award (for a non-European film) 2002